10 candidates walk into a bar — er, forum …

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Development issues spark heated confrontation between councilwoman and audience member

Incumbent Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck would have gotten an earful from her two challengers over development issues in District C had she stayed around to hear it.

Before leaving to appear at another forum, Clutterbuck told the audience of fewer than 50 she had and would continue to represent her constituents’ interests by keeping a regulatory eye on industry and development. .

Following her departure, challengers eagerly focused on recent news reports that shed more light on plans for a controversial high-rise at 1717 Bissonnet St., dating back further than originally known to most people living in the area.

They charged that Clutterbuck may or at least could have known about the potential structure years before she took to the streets alongside angry voters to protest it.

Opponent Glaser was particularly critical: “(If elected) I wouldn’t be taking money from such people and then having to quietly give it back,” he said referring to individual donations from the Kirton family (Kevin Kirton is a major partner in Buckhead Investments who own the would-be high-rise) who attend church with the councilwoman.

“Planning decisions should be made by elected officials and the city Public Works, not by the developers,” Glaser said.

Glaser and fellow challenger Alfred Molison, former chair of the Harris County Green Party, both support a comprehensive plan for Houston development. Molison said he learned about what is important to his constituents by block walking and meeting voters in person to talk about sustainability.

“Houston is the living embodiment of the creative destructive nature of capitalism," he said explaining how he would approach serving the district.

All of the tough talk about development caught the attention of Lovell and former District D Councilwoman, now-Controller Annise Parker.

They drew on what they described as painful memories of watching a years-long land grab in that district completely chang

ience of fewer than 50 she had and would continue to represent her constituents’ interests by keeping a regulatory eye on industry and development.

Following her departure, challengers eagerly focused on recent news reports that shed more light on plans for a controversial high-rise at 1717 Bissonnet St., dating back further than originally known to most people living in the area.

They charged that Clutterbuck may or at least could have known about the potential structure years before she took to the streets alongside angry voters to protest it.

Opponent Glaser was particularly critical: “(If elected) I wouldn’t be taking money from such people and then having to quietly give it back,” he said referring to individual donations from the Kirton family (Kevin Kirton is a major partner in Buckhead Investments who own the would-be high-rise) who attend church with the councilwoman.

“Planning decisions should be made by elected officials and the city Public Works, not by the developers,” Glaser said.

Glaser and fellow challenger Alfred Molison, former chair of the Harris County Green Party, both support a comprehensive plan for Houston development. Molison said he learned about what is important to his constituents by block walking and meeting voters in person to talk about sustainability.

“Houston is the living embodiment of the creative destructive nature of capitalism," he said explaining how he would approach serving the district.

All of the tough talk about development caught the attention of Lovell and former District D Councilwoman, now-Controller Annise Parker.

They drew on what they described as painful memories of watching a years-long land grab in that district completely change